Single-Engine Failure While Hovering Methods (Landing Required)
Common Errors:
- Failing to eliminate yaw and drift.
- Not recognizing power loss and failing to lower collective promptly.
- Overcorrecting—lowering the collective too much.
- Excessive “cushioning” or attempting finesse near touchdown.
- Fixating on the contingency power switch rather than controlling the aircraft.
Teaching Techniques:
- Train students to recognize auditory cues—a sudden change in engine or rotor noise is often the first signal of an engine failure.
- In most cases (hover power in the mid to upper 60s torque or higher), collective must be reduced to maintain Nr.
- Avoid abrupt control movements: if collective is dropped and then aggressively reapplied, the descent will stall, Nr will decay, and the helicopter will have a hard landing. Furthermore, in training, torque may spike near the operational single-engine limit of 144%.
- New H-60 students, especially those with prior skid aircraft experience, may strive for “soft” landings. Firm landings are acceptable as long as there is no yaw or lateral drift.
- Forward drift on touchdown can be acceptable, or even beneficial, especially on flat, paved surfaces. However, lateral drift and yaw must be minimized to reduce rollover risk and improve survivability (the airframe’s ability to absorb impact forces)
